Prints Evidence

By The Forensic Experts Group

Prints evidence are physical evidence that can aid in both criminal and non-criminal investigations as they can be left on objects or on surfaces such as walls and table-tops. Fingerprints found on a weapon can be used to associate a suspect to a homicide. Shoeprints observed atop an air-conditioning unit can be used to place a suspect at the scene of a house break-in. Prints may also be encountered in civil cases as fingerprints are used to verify one’s identify, such as in bank books, or on high-tech equipment such as mobile phones and biometric systems providing secured access.

Prints can be classified into three categories: Visible, latent or impression.

Visible Prints: When fingers or shoes that have been contaminated with substances such as blood or oil come into contact with a surface, they leave behind visible prints.

Latent Prints: Prints may also be left unknowingly. Just because a print is invisible to the naked eye does not mean it is not present. In such cases, an in-depth understanding of the substrate on which the print has been deposited is crucial to selecting the optimum techniques to best develop or enhance the latent prints.

Impressions: Impressions can result from a print being in contact with a soft material or surface such as plasticine or wet paint.

VALUE OF PRINTS EVIDENCE

In cases where items are suspected of having been tampered with, latent prints, if present, can be recovered and provide leads to possible suspects. Such prints may be present on a wide range of objects and surfaces such as mugs, documents, glass windows, wooden doors and metal parts. After the prints are recovered, they may then be compared with specimen prints collected from individuals to determine if any identification/exclusion can be made.

HOW WE CAN HELP YOU

If you need help to compare a visible print or suspect a latent print may be present on an object, do not hesitate to approach our experts with your queries.